St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-09-08
"How ~

awe must agree in some way who
shall try his luck first, who second,
and so on. If you agree, will see the
other fellows and bring them here"
At first my inclination was to indig-
nantly reject this proposition; but
there was a charm about its novelty.
1t was true that we were terribly in
each others way at present. If
should succeed in getting the first
chance, l felt quite confident that
should win. Even if l did not, my
lucky stars would watch over me
those stars which had so clearly fore
Swallowed my fate in this very matter.
So l consented to a conference, and
Fisher went to find Beardsley and
Kimball.
They were not far off-the skulkers
they never were during those days
and they came siding along, looking
disagreeable enough, thought. Fish
er did most of the talking, and after
several ideas had been proposed and
rejected we agreed on this; we would
go in a body to the first train which
came the next morning, present our
case to the first gentleman who alight-
ed from the rear Pullman car, and
abide by his decision.
| How the others bore it l do not
know, but did not close my eyes that
night. My heart was in futter when
the train came laundering into the sta
ton. We "spotted" our man, bright
looking gentleman about twenty six or
twenty seven years of age, who looked
surprised (as well he mighty when we
bore down upon him and preferred our
singular request. We gave him no
particulars at the time except that
there was lady in the case, but beg
ged him to assign an early hour to take
he appointed eleven o'clock on the
same morning, and as he was to stay at
our hotel, we all drove up together.
At eleven we gathered in a private
parlOr, and after drawing lots to see
eral stories. Our arbitrator, whose
name turned out to be Mr.. Sawyer,
went at his task with great delibera-
ton, making cOpiOus notes as the tes-
timOny proceeded. He seemed to take
especial interest in each description of
the handsome widow, interfering such
phrases as, "AbOut what age should
you say 2" eyes gray or hazle ~
'Plump and fair height, ell 2" l re-
called these things afterward with a
pang.
When my turn came l detailed my
adventure with the understanding
hitherto entirely unknown to others. l
could see their envy at what must
prove a strong point in my favor. And
when Sawyer said with emphasis,
"The wretch l wish l could have got
one blow at him." l felt certain he
would admit that l had a fair title to
precedence.
"Well, gentlemen" said the arbitra-
tor, as he folded up his papers, sit
will take me few days to decide. In
the mean time [ ought to see the lady,
and find out, if l can do so without
arousing her suspicious, whether she
has preference already formed"
"But l say" struck in Beardsley,
''you must be fair, you know. Don't
step in and cut out the lot of us before
we get chance to say word in our
own behalf"
81 give you my word of honor" re-
piled Mr.. Sawyer, impressively, "that
l shall do nothing unbecoming a gen
tleman or an impartial judge"
His word of honor! But l antici
pate.
AS we walked out upon the piazza
Fisher grasped Sawyer's arm and
showed him the widow, who was walk
ing on the opposite side of the street
with her usual companion. Sawyer
observed her carefully, and remarking
that it would not be easy to mistake
her, left us and went to his room.
This Sawyer was a lively fellow.
We found within twentyfOur hours
that he had succeeded in getting an
introduction to the youthful widow,
and a day later we caught him taking
lunch in company with her and the
elderly female. There was nothing
inherently wrong in this precipitation,
but l think we all felt one way about
it. The next evening he walked with
her for an hour, and the following
morning he went with her for water to
the Hathorn spring. The elderly lady
was never very far off at these times,
which might have relieved us little
but for the fact that he never noticed
us or offered to communicate with us
in any way. Several days passed,
during which we saw him with the
widow and her chaperOn quite too fire.
quently. Then we held a council of
''Let US seek him out, all of us to-
gether," said Beardsley, "and demand
an explanation"
The motion passed by a unanimous
vote.
One afternoon, in by-path of the
park, we ran across Sawyer and the
handsome widow alone. 1t was not
the sort of place | should have selected
E. t,,k 4
EN- steps toward us with extended
hand, Fisher, who happened to be in
advance, declined to accept the well
come.
"You appear to have a very bad
memory, sir" he said, very haughtily.
Mr.. Sawyer looked at us, as if a lit
tie disconnected, for moment. Then
he said zone moment, if you please,
gentlemen. Allow me to introduce to
you my wife,"
We all stood staring at him.
ado you mean to tell u.s." blurted
out Fisher, "that you have married
this lady after your promise to us ?"
CATER 2" said Sawyer. ooh, no it
was three years previously. In June,
'83, wasn't it, Minnie 2"
81 think so, john" said the lady,
looking unnecessarily uncOncerned, as
it seemed to me. 'But that is not so
important just now as the fact that
this is the gentleman"-indic me
-"Of whom l spoke to you; the one
that rescued me from the robber."
"Indeed," said Sawyer, with incred
ible discrimination. "Then let me beg
that he and his friends will favor us
with their company at dinner this
evening, where | can thank him more
at leisure. We are stopping at the
Grand Union, and my name is Saw
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